Gallup Finds Persistent AI Anxiety Among Frequent US Users

Americans who use artificial intelligence every day remain deeply concerned about its effects. A Gallup survey commissioned by Microsoft found that 68% of daily AI users in the United States worry about the technology, while 74% of Americans overall said AI makes them feel worried. Only 36% expect it to mostly help the country.

The research covers 37 countries so far, with roughly 1,000 people surveyed in each market between April and July. Gallup plans to expand the project to 140 countries. The reported results do not yet include India, Australia or Malaysia.

Frequent use does not settle concerns

The survey challenges the assumption that regular exposure naturally creates public enthusiasm. People use AI for everyday tasks such as finding recipes, completing homework, researching work projects and producing presentations, yet that convenience can coexist with anxiety about broader consequences.

Pablo Diego-Rosell, a senior scientist at Gallup, said attitudes are multidimensional: people may be curious about AI, expect benefits and use it often while also worrying about it. They may also see significant potential while questioning whether the information generated by AI is accurate.

Confidence in outputs remains limited in the US. Just 45% of daily users said they trust AI results a lot. Across the countries surveyed, the median share expressing that level of trust was 36%, with less frequent users generally more sceptical.

International results show a different balance

Western countries were the most concerned in Gallup's results. Canada reflected a similar pattern: 29% of respondents said they used AI daily, and more than half of those daily users voiced concern. Overall, 64% of Canadians who were aware of AI said it worried them.

Several high-adoption markets were markedly more optimistic. Singapore had the highest reported share of daily users, at 46%; more than 80% of people aware of AI expected it to improve their daily lives, and 77% believed it would help the country. In China, where 35% reported daily use, most respondents expected AI to help the country. Gallup reported a similar pattern in Israel.

Across 34 of the 37 countries, curiosity was the dominant feeling about AI. Positive emotions were especially common in China, Singapore and Kenya, while about 32% of all respondents said they felt worried. Gallup also noted that optimism does not necessarily translate into confidence in AI accuracy.

What the findings mean for organisations

The results arrive amid debate about AI safety, employment, privacy, cybersecurity, content ownership and the technology's effects on creative industries. They also suggest that growing use may not remove public unease, particularly where AI affects consequential decisions.

For businesses, daily adoption should not be treated as proof of trust or consent. AI programmes need practical accuracy review, clear limits for sensitive workflows and transparent governance, because employees and customers can find a tool useful while remaining concerned about where and how it is used.